Plant-parasitic nematodes associated with organic and conventional vegetable farms in Laguna Province, Philippines

Abstract

A survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of plant-parasitic nematodes associated with vegetable crops grown in organic and conventional farms in Laguna province, Philippines. Seven nematode genera (Aphelenchoides, Aphelenchus, Helicotylenchus, Meloidogyne, Pratylenchus, Rotylenchulus and Tylenchus) from organic farms and five (all those found in organic except Aphelenchoides and Pratylenchus) from conventional farms were isolated using modified Baermann tray method. Among these taxa, Meloidogyne and Rotylenchulus were the most prevalent and abundant in both organic and conventional farms. Pratylenchus was also prevalent in organic farms and Helicotylenchus in conventional farms. Rotylenchulus was found associated with every vegetable in both organic and conventional farms and Meloidogyne was also observed with all vegetables in conventional farms. Organic vegetable farms were more diverse in terms of genera of plant-parasitic nematodes than conventional farms.